IMPORTANT PARTING WORDS

COLOSSIANS 4:2-18


Pastor Rick Jackson


I. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS [V. 2-6]


1. Concerning Prayer [v. 2-4]


(1)-persevere in prayer (faithful, steadfast, proskartereo means to give constant attention to a thing) I Th. 5:17


(2)-watch in prayer (vigilant, alert, gregoreo means to give strict attention to)


(3)-add thanksgiving to prayer

Paul, Oliver B. Greene, John Rice, and others point out that thanksgiving is not prayer but it should often accompany prayer. Prayer is asking.

Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.


(4)-be specific in prayer


2. Concerning your Christian life [v. 5]


(1)-walk in wisdom (not carelessly, peripateo -to order one's behavior)

Eph. 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,


(2)-walk as a testimony

I Th. 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without...


(3)-walk as a redeemer of time (exagorazo -to buy up the opportunity for one's self)

Eph. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.


3. Concerning your speech

"A judge says a few words, and a man's life is saved or condemned. A doctor speaks a few words, and a patient either rejoices ecstatically or gives up in despair. Whether the communication is oral or written, there is great power in words. I am told that for every word in Mein Kampf, 125 persons lost their lives in World War II." -Warren Wiersbe


-speak with grace (en chariti -gracious, pleasant)


-season it with salt (salt prevents corruption & flavors items)

Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.


-use wisdom (Pr. 26:4-5)


II. SUPPORT PERSONNEL


No-one, not even Paul, can do it all alone!


1. Tychicus & Onesimus- communicators [v. 7-9]


2. Aristarchus, Marcus & Justus- Jewish coworkers [v. 10-11]


3. Epaphras- prayer warriors [v. 12-13, 1:7-8]


4. Luke & Demas- helpers [v. 14]


III. SINCERE SALUTATIONS


1. Greet the brethren [v. 15]


2. Share the Word [v. 16]


3. Encourage the Servant [v. 17]


4. Remember the bound [v. 18]

Heb. 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.